Cancún hosts EU-Caribbean summit on sargassum management

The 4th EU-Caribbean Global Gateway Conference on Sargassum is being held in Cancún, bringing together approximately 350 representatives from 45 countries and territories. Organized by the European Union, the Mexican government, SEMARNAT, and the government of Quintana Roo, the summit focuses on advancing pilot projects to create a regional market for the industrial management and valorization of sargassum.

Participants include government officials, international organizations, academic institutions, and financial entities from nations such as Belize, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Spain, France, and Japan. The goal is to foster public-private cooperation to invest in the collection, supply, and utilization of the macroalgae.

During the event, Mexico will present its National Strategy for Sargassum Management and Response. Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa emphasized the need to move beyond mere collection toward prevention and transforming the seaweed into a valuable raw material for a circular economy. Projections shared at the conference indicate a significant increase in sargassum levels, with estimates rising from 38 million tons in 2025 to potentially 80 million tons in the following year.